The MasterKey: Bracing Connections is an expansion of the MasterKey: Simple Connections and provides an integrated, interactive steel connection design environment for the bolted bracing connections in accordance with Eurocode BS EN 1993-1-8 and the SCI 'Green Book' SCI P358 publication. The MasterKey: Bracing Connections can be used as a standalone module, where the connection geometry and forces can be manually input to create the required connection, or linked to a Masterframe model, in which case the connection geometry and forces input are carried out automatically, based on the Masterframe model and analysis results. For connections based on a Masterframe model, the software provides an option to 'unlink' the connection, so as to allow the user to modify both the connection geometry and forces independently of the Masterframe model.
The design of Bracing Connections is based on the assumption that the bracing connections are simple connections and that bracing members are under axial load only, whether tension or compression. Where the centrelines of elements do not intersect, additional forces can be induced in the connected members and this can be accounted for in the design. Where additional forces are developed, these can be automatically accounted for in the design of connections of the other elements, such as beams and columns by linking a bracing connection to other simple connections.
Multiple connections can be set up within a single design file with each connection being treated as a separate design brief. In general each design brief is independent of the other connection designs within the same file. For a file linked to a Masterframe model, it is possible to unlink individual connections while maintaining the Masterframe link for the other connections within the file. For simple connections design using the software as a stand-alone module, it is possible to link the bracing and simple connections to include the effects of any eccentricities in the bracing connection within the simple connection design.
Within the MasterKey: Bracing Connections module, as per the Simple and Moment Connections, a number of tools are provided to allow for the managing of the outputs of the section design. This includes options to send the output to a printer, to print as a .pdf document or to export the member designs to a Word document.